The Magnitude of Suicidal Behaviour among People Living with Diabetes Mellitus Attending an Outpatient Department of Alamata General Hospital, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia 2019: a Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background Globally, suicide accounts 75% in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).Though the magnitude of suicidal behaviour in high- income countries (HIC) is higher relative to the general population, limited studies had explored about suicidal behaviour among medical outpatients in middle-income countries (LMICs) including this locality. Suicidal behaviours among people with the chronic medical illness are one of the commonest psychiatric emergencies that demand a major health concern by researchers and mental health task forces. People with the chronic medical illness show suicidal ideation and attempt which are fatal problems to end life. Therefore, this study will address the gaps by determining the magnitude of suicidal behaviour among Diabetes Mellitus patients in an outpatient setting of Alamata General Hospital (AGH). Methods Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among medical patients attending a chronic care clinic in Alamata general Hospital from May to June 2019. A sample of 146 DM patients who were attending an outpatient chronic care clinic was included in the study. Patients’ data on socio-demographics, clinical factors, substance use and other information's were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire through face to face interview. Suicidal behaviour was used assessed by WHO suicidal behaviour assessment. The collected data were coded, entered and analyzed using frequency, cross-tabulation analysis by SPSS Version 23. Result The magnitude of suicidal behaviour among DM patients at AGH is 30.8%. Conclusion This study demonstrated that suicidal behaviours common problem in diabetic patients was high magnitude.

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“…According to the study, suicide is also common in chronic medial illness; the magnitude of suicidal behavior among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) at Northwest Ethiopia was 30.8%, 15.8% had suicidal ideation, 14.4% had a suicidal attempt, and 15.1% of them had a plan to commit suicide ( 25 ).…”